About the Project
Soil degradation is a formidable challenge, disproportionately affecting food security and economic well-being in lower and middle- income countries (Tilahun et al., 2018). The availability of non-degraded soil is progressively shrinking at the global scale, while land requirements for a range of competing uses continue to grow, endangering the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (IPBES , 2016). Proposed solutions to overcome soil degradation have largely been based on a generic understanding of soil processes that does not reflect fine-scale variation in local contexts or socio-economic drivers, and thus these solutions have not always been widely adopted. More generally, there is a growing awareness that single factor-based research has been inadequate in addressing many environmental problems and that more interdisciplinary approaches are required (Matthews et al., 2006).
Developments in Agent-Based Modelling (ABM) (Hare & Deadman, 2004; An, 2012; Matthews et al. 2007) in the field of land-use change and agricultural systems have demonstrated the value of this cutting-edge modelling approach as a way of effectively integrating different disciplinary knowledge about the biophysical, social and economic characteristics of a system, within a single spatially-explicit simulation model. Thus, the project will use a participatory ABM approach to undertake a novel transdisciplinary study that will bring stakeholders together to achieve the overall aim of designing and implementing a scenario-based, transdisciplinary comparative analysis of the likelihood of adoption of different soil restoration strategies within sub-catchments composed of heterogenous marginalized, farming communities.The selected sub-catchments will be in the UK and India.
To achieve this, the project will explore the following questions:
1. What are the technical, social, political and economic drivers and barriers to adoption of soil restoration strategies, under different economic and climate change scenarios?
2. How can these technical, social, political and economic factors be best modelled in a spatially-explicit, integrated biophysical, social and economic simulation model?
3. What is the difference in comparative impact, with respect to adoption likelihood, between technical, social, political and economic factors?
4. How can the simulation modelling activity be best employed with communities to support i) a change in the likelihood of adoption and ii) the development of a strategic roadmap for soil restoration?
A PhD candidate with modelling skills is sought with experience in the one or more of the following:
• Collaborative work with stakeholders
• Field work
One or more of the following research areas:
1. Sociology
2. Economics
3. Agriculture sciences
4. Soil science
5. International development
6. Participatory management
7. Adaptive management
Funding Notes
The studentship is funded under the James Hutton Institute/University Joint PhD programme, in this case with the University of Edinburgh, for a 4 year study period. Applicants should have a first-class honours degree in a relevant subject or a 2.1 honours degree plus Masters (or equivalent).Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in Jan/Feb 2019. A more detailed plan of the studentship is available to candidates upon application. Funding is available for European applications, but Worldwide applicants who possess suitable self-funding are also invited to apply.
References
An, L. 2012, Modelling human decisions in coupled human and natural systems: review of agent-based models. Ecological Modelling 229: 25-36
Hare, M.P. 2011. Forms of participatory modelling and its potential for widespread adoption in the water sector. Environmental Policy and Governance. 21(4): 386-402.
IPBES (2016): Summary for policymakers of the assessment report of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services on pollinators, pollination and food production. S.G. Potts, V. L. Imperatriz-Fonseca, H. T. Ngo, J. C. Biesmeijer, T. D. Breeze, L. V. Dicks, L. A. Garibaldi, R. Hill, J. Settele, A. J. Vanbergen, M. A. Aizen, S. A. Cunningham, C. Eardley, B. M. Freitas, N. Gallai, P. G. Kevan, A. Kovács-Hostyánszki, P. K. Kwapong, J. Li, X. Li, D. J. Martins, G. Nates-Parra, J. S. Pettis, R. Rader, and B. F. Viana (eds.). pp. 1–30. IPBES (2016) https://tinyurl.com/y7zjdo2g
Matthews, R.B., 2006. PALM: An agent-based spatial model of livelihood generation and resourceflows in rural households and their environment. Ecol. Modelling. 194, 329-343
Matthews, R, N. Gilbert, A. Roach, G. Polhill and N. Gotts (2007), Agent based land-use models: a review of applications, Landscape Ecology, 22, 1447-1459.
Tilahun, M., Singh, A., Kumar, P., Apindi, E., Schauer, M., Libera, J., Lund H.G. (2018). The Economics of Land Degradation Neutrality in Asia: Empirical Analyses and Policy Implications for the Sustainable Development Goals. Available from www.eld-initiative.org
ELD Initiative (2015) https://tinyurl.com/y8zoyfu3
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